Leto, who stars alongside Best Actor nominee Matthew McConaughey, had been
the favourite to take the accolade after winning at multiple recent
awards ceremonies.

As last year's Best Supporting Actress winner Anne Hathaway
announced Leto's name as winner, he hugged McConaughey before
taking to the stage.

"Ellen I love you," Leto began, in a nod to this year's Oscars
host Ellen DeGeneres. "To my fellow nominees, I'm so proud to share
this journey with you. I have awe and so much respect for you all.
To the academy, thank you."

Leto went on to thank his mother, who he had invited along to
the ceremony as his date.

Jared Leto invited his mother to accompany him to the Oscars and posted this Instagram of her reaction

"In 1971, Louisiana, there was a teenage girl who was pregnant
with her second child. She was a high school drop-out and a single
mum but somehow she managed to make a better life for herself and
her children, she encouraged her kids to be creative and work hard
and do something special. That girl is my mother and she's here
tonight - thank you for teaching me to dream."

Leto continued his speech to mention the crisis in Ukraine and
those who are struggling with Aids and accepting who they are as
people:

"To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this
tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we
are here and, as you struggle to make your dreams happen, to live
the impossible, we're thinking of you tonight.

"This is incredibly special as well because there's so many
people who helped me get here.

"This is for the 36 million who have lost the battle to Aids and
to those of you out there who have ever felt injustice because of
who you are and who you love.

"Tonight I stand here in front of the world, with you and for
you."

Speaking to reporters after his win, Leto explained why he
name-checked the situations in Ukraine and Venezuela during his
acceptance speech.

“You have an opportunity when you stand on this stage. You can
make it all about yourself, or you can hold up a mirror and shine a
light,” he said, noting that his band, 30 Seconds to Mars, is due
to play in the Ukraine “in a couple of weeks”, and until recently
had a concert in Venezuela “in the works”.

“I feel at home all over the world,” the 42-year-old added. “
Social issues like this affect us in a really immediate way… Being
a person in a global band, it was important to me to address these
things.”

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